Early birds to snag winter sports gear at low prices

Do you need some new poles or fresh skis? Are you considering x-country skiing as a new sport to keep you fit during the winter? You might want to think about gearing up now. Even though autumn has just begun, outfitters and ski shops throughout the state are offering big sales and special deals on ski packages, winter outerwear, snowshoes and more.

Check out this incomplete list of sales and deals being offered in Maine:

Also, check out the popular children’s seasonal lease program – $99 to lease a children’s ski package for the winter. For information, call Ski Rack Sports at 945-6474.

• Ongoing: Maine Sport Outfitters at 115 Commercial St. in Rockport is offering last year’s downhill skis, snowboards, cross country skis and snow shoes at discounted prices. Last year’s Atlas snowshoes and accessories are up to 20 percent off; last year’s cross country skis are up to 40 percent off; and last year’s downhill skis and snowboards are up to 50 percent off.

“We’ve got some incredible deals on our skis right now,” said Mike Hartley, manager of the bike and ski shop at Maine Sport Outfitters.

“There are some people that have to have the latest ski. They talk about ski change every year, but its really subtle stuff,” said Hartley. “Being able to sell skis 50 percent off is pretty cool. Not a lot of people want to spend a lot of money on new skis.”

Also, check out their rental and program canoes and kayaks, which have recently been put on sale. All of their 2012 bikes are also on sale, though they don’t have many left. For information, call Maine Sport Outfitters at 236-7120.

• Ongoing: Ski Depot at 12 Riley Road in Jay is offering 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010 skis and accessories at discounted prices. Some of their 2012 models are up to 60 percent off, according to their website, www.ski-depot.com. They also have some great discounted men’s and women’s snow pants. For information, call 897-5445.

• Oct. 6: Carrabassett Valley Academy’s annual Ski and Sports Equipment Sale will be held at the Anti Gravity Complex in Carrabassett Valley. The sale will host a variety of new and used ski and snowboard equipment and gear, as well as some miscellaneous sporting items as well.

The doors to the sale open at 10 a.m. and close at 3 p.m. Anyone planning to bring items to sell may do so on Friday, Oct. 5 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. For information, visit gocva.com/skisale.

Oct. 7-17: Need a car rack for your skis or snowboard? Eastern Mountain Sports will be having a sale on their car racks at their Maine stores in Portland at 87 Marginal Way and in Southern Portland at 301 Maine Mall Road.

For information, call Portland store at 541-1919 and South Portland store at 523-1961. They will have more detailed information closer to the sale date.

• Oct. 12, 13, and 14: The Epic Sports annual High Rollers Sale will be held at Epic Sports at 6 Central Street in Bangor. This is a store-wide, progressive sale that spans three days. The discount starts at 11 percent off on Friday, Oct. 12, then moves to 22 percent off on Saturday, and finishes with 33 percent off on Sunday. But that’s not all. Once you reach the register, you get to roll a single die for an additional 1-6 percent off.

That means if you roll a 6 on Friday, you get 17% off. On Saturday, rolling a 6 would give you 28% off. And on Sunday, rolling a 6 would give you 39% off. Your “high stakes” decision will be whether to snag your favorite item on Friday, or ‘let it ride’ and see if you can score it on Sunday, when you will get a higher percentage off the price.

This sale is good on any in-stock item (except consignment Items and gift certificates) at it’s lowest ticketed price. For information, call Epic Sports at 941-5670.

• Oct. 17-27: Eastern Mountain Sports will hold an outerwear sale at their Maine stores in Portland at 87 Marginal Way and in Southern Portland at 301 Maine Mall Road.

For information, call Portland store at 541-1919 and South Portland store at 523-1961. They will have more detailed information closer to the sale date.

• Oct. 26-27: The 32nd Annual Bethel Outing Club Ski Sale, 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 27, at Gould Academy’s fieldhouse. People are welcome to sell and buy sports gear at this event, where there will be new and used equipment from major ski shops, as well as local and visiting skiers. The proceeds will benefit the charitable purposes of the Bethel Outing Club. Vendors can contact Chris Hayward at 357-1771 or at haywardc@gouldacademy.org. For information about sale guidelines, visit the Bethel Outing Club website at www.bethelouting.org.

• Oct. 27-28: Cadillac Mountain Sports is having a huge sale – 40 percent off storewide – at their store in Bar Harbor at 26 Cottage St. For information, call 288-4532.

• Nov. 3: Cadillac Mountain Sports is having an early bird sale – 40 percent off storewide – at their store in Ellsworth at 32 High St. For information, call 667-7819.